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Fishing for Ideas
FyreWyr writes "Whether Microsoft is searching for new ideas, or supporting inventors outright is up for grabs, but they're stabbing at it with $300,000 for 12 spanking ideas (that's $25k each). But as with everything Microsoft, the devil's in the details, or rather, the fine print. At first, you'd swear it was "Brought to you by VISA" - the logo is ubiquitous - but the very last statement in the contest rules reads: "The sponsor...is Microsoft ... VISA...have not sponsored or offered this contest in any way". They also retain a spectrum of rights, and responsibily suggest that you go out and patent really good ideas first. Okay, how much does that cost again? (see end of this article)."
wait wait wait... clarify step 3.
Who profits?
You might want to RTFA. The examples listed aren't pitching ideas for new products or businesses (at least, none of the ones I saw did, including the examples).
Rather, they were for things like 'fund me so build an orphanage in Guatemala' and 'help me recreate my grandfather's immigration to America so I can understand my roots'.
Of course, using it as venture capital for some new product you have in mind might win, too, but from what I gather, the point of it is not (necessarily) to get new product ideas.
What do you mean, Microsoft "not being honest," that's impossible. They are always letting people keep there ideas. They have always "embraced and extended" everyone's good ideas. More seriously though, anyone should patent an idea or it will be lost to some big business, M$ or not, someone will steal it.
That would take a wee bit more than $25K (or even $300K...) :]
Most of the people are going looking to win the money to do something with it. Mostly it falls into two categories.
:P Unless they put Windows computers in the library and bring the kiddies and people up using their software of course!
1. Help myself
2. Help others
Not sure how MS is going to make more money by building libraries in Ghana.
From what I can tell from the entries so far the competition isn't for technical ideas. It is mostly social ideas, like starting a school program or helping out in a third world country. I would not expect to see their target audience submit an idea for developing a new video compression technique.
I personally would not bash Microsoft or Visa for this one. The aim is promote MSN and Visa, not a way to get ideas for free. Besides, I highly doubt Microsoft would be able to patent a method for paying off Grandma's medical bills.
This happens in other arenas, in particular book rights and movies.
Richard Bach spent a lot of time and money buying the rights of his first couple books back from his publisher, but as I understand it he wouldn't have been able to publish those books without having given the rights away in the first place. Not that he did profit from the books even though he didn't own them.
I want to say the same happens in the movie industry, but I'm not sure.
The only real difference is that people will always want to know who wrote a book or movie, and don't really care about the individual behind research.
"Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door." - Emily Dickinson
I'm 32, which is too old to have an idea. Apparently ideas come from 18-29 year olds...
the 'devil's' ruining the hole sideshow buy now.
25k? buy golly, that seems like a lot of monIE for just some billyonerror 'idea'. shucks.
does it pay off in worth less billybuks, or sum other such frauduleNT patentdead payper liesense stock markup bullshipping industrIE scammage?
lookout bullow. almost time to square up robbIE?
anonymouse? -40 too close to call?
consult yOUR creator regarding matters of the heart/mind/soul.
From the site:
"I've been going to school for three years, and my family has struggled to keep me in school for all three years. My mother's house has been under contruction for majority of the time, but she hasn't been able to complete it because she is paying for me to go to school. I want to continue to a four year college, but won't be able to if I can't come up with the money. I want to start my own Public Relations company, but without a strong education behind me that makes it harder for me, and being a minority woman. I would be the first to successfully start a business, and be able to do things like promote for Microsoft, if they award me this prize. It will set my future up for a beautiful long lasting career"
I have been suggesting just this thing for Transmeta/IBM/SUN/HP for the last year. You will find it in a large number of posts here and LinuxToday (as a.c./dev@null). MS runs around and does it. While I personally think that MS has some of the worse coders and software in the world, they have the very best Lawyers and Marketers. My hat is off to you MS. If you win, it is becuase the good guys are so totally stupid and greedy. Perhaps, it also shows the total lack of imagination.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
and the concepts embodied therein
MS didn't invent IP, they only abuse it. You should turn your wrath on your legislator and tell them what needs to be fixed. (i.e. software patents)
I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
Both Microsoft and Scientology like to grab the "regular guy's" inventiveness to use for their own ends.
Beware assholes bearing gifts!
This board is rabid. Back in about 1989 Apple ran one or two promotions like this. They retained all the rights too.
Lay off Microsoft. Not everything they do is wrong.
The good guys thought the contest idea was stupid and greedy. It is you know.
DMCA, Hollings, Palladium. What might have sounded like paranoia is now common sense.
If you have a really good idea, there are ways to make money with it. This isn't one of them.